A History of Italy

052 – A wander around in the early 12th century

Having set up the start of the communes, we take a look at what it would be like to wander around an Italian city in the early 12th century

051 – Communes rising

We take a look at how a new form of local government, the Communes rose and gained their independence from the feudal powers that be, 

Recap 03: Episodes 28 – 50 from the year 1000 to the concordat of Worms in 1122

Using th concordat of Worms as a stopping point, we look back over th episodes that cover from the year 1000 to the end of the investiture crisis in 1122.

050 – Arrivederci Arabs, the Emirate of Sicily part 2

We see the golden age of Muslim Sicily under the Fatimids and Kalbids before everything comes crashing down to to interval division and outside forces.  

049 – Arrivederci Arabs, the Emirate of Sicily part 1

We take a look back at the Arab invasione of Sicily starting with the early raids in the seventh century, through the invasion of 827 up to the fall of the Aghlabids in the early tenth century.

048 – Bye bye Byzantines -The end of Byzantine Italy part 2

In the second part of this miniseries we go from the time of king Rotari of the Lombards at the end of the seventh century to the fall of Bai and the end of the Byzantine presence in Italy.

047 – Bye bye Byzantines – The end of Byzantine Italy part 1

We take a look back at the Byzantine presence in Italy, from the Gothic War in 535 up to the start of the seventh century.

046 – Matilda of Tuscany, the iron countess of Canossa, part 2

We continue the story of Matilda of Canossa as  war breaks out with Emperor Henry IV. We then see yet another failed attempt at marriage, the end of the fight against Henry IV and how things went with his son and successor, Henry V while alone she tan one of the largest areas in Italy.

045 – Matilda of Tuscany, the iron countess of Canossa Part 1

1046 - 1080 We look at the life of Matilda of Canossa, starting from the history of her family through her childhood, the humiliation of Canossa and to the start of the war against Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV.

044 – Goodbye Henry, goodbye Matilda and a can of worms

We see how Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV ended up, as well as his long-term nemesis Matilda of Tuscany, countess of Canossa. Meanwhile we change  couple of popes and get a new Emperor, yet another Henry as he also struggles with a couple of popes on their way to the concordat of Worms.